Friday Recruitin' Is Down To Six Comment Count

Brian

One basketball visit on, one off

maxresdefault (1)

this Wilson picture should be a meme

This here site has mentioned a couple times that the restricted numbers and big fish looking at the hook in the 2019 class mean that a sit-one-play-any transfer would have to be quite the prospect. Wichita State's Austin Reaves—a college-proven Just A Shooter who hit 45% a year ago—was a better bet than a Robert Morris player with a 102 ORTG, but still didn't seem compelling enough to occupy a precious 2019 roster slot.

After some back and forth it looks like Michigan agrees. A Reaves visit scheduled for this weekend is off and the twitter account that's reporting all the Reaves news excludes Michigan from a new top four, with a decision imminent. Purdue is in that top 4 and for no reason I expect him to end up there so he can play off a 7'3" guy and run around like Rip Hamilton.

There is a visit on this weekend, and it's a big one: TX SF Jalen Wilson. Wilson recently released a top six with a couple of notable exclusions:

Those exclusions are Oklahoma, who had one of the three CBs ventured for Wilson, and UNC. The Tarheels wanted to wait until the July evaluation period before deciding on an offer; Wilson's ready to move on. A week or so ago he told 24/7 that Michigan, Baylor, Marquette, and Kansas were "really prioritizing him," so that moves a couple of contenders down the list.

Kansas rather looms, but a visit near decision time gives Michigan their shot to pitch UNMATCHED DEVELOPMENT. Also uh?

Top 30-ish players committing is always a believe-it-when-you-see-it event for a scrupulously, uh, scrupulous program. Wilson looks like the rare bird who might execute the maneuver. If you'd like the nitty-gritty on him, UMHoops has a breakdown of his game. He's an Iggy-esque guy who can get to the basket but he needs to work on his 3P%.

UPDATE: Ace points out that Snow just issued a Michigan crystal ball and explained on the The Victors Club. He doesn't think a commitment is likely this weekend, but that it may be a formality.

The other major major major basketball target

DJCArton2-Edited

IA PG DJ Carton also announced a top six:

With all due respect to the other schools on that list—Michigan has lost recruiting battles to most—that's the kind of top six for a top 50 prospect I can get behind. Wisconsin getting axed is nice since he had the early run of crystal balls. He talked to Zagsblog after his list came out and said a bunch of not much:

Michigan: “I’m planning to go on a visit. [Coach Luke Yaklich] and I, we’ve been talking often, so we have a really strong relationship and they’re supporting me so it’s always good to hear from them. They had a great season, making it to the national championship. I feel like every school is recruiting me for a priority.’

Carton recently moved up to 30th on Rivals and is knocking on the door of five-star status:

When national analysts discuss potential leaders for Carton they're usually weak predictions like "could be slightly ahead of the pack," but Michigan is a constant amongst those predictions. Rivals's Eric Bossi thinks Michigan and Ohio State are edging ahead of the field; IU 247 guy says it's M, OSU, and Indiana; 24/7 national analyst Brian Snow is also in the M and OSU camp.

Comments

bacon1431

May 11th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^

Wilson and Carton would be a great class. I imagine we'll probably add another at some point. But this would be on of the few times that we got our Plan A guys. Which would be awesome. 

AZBlue

May 11th, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^

As much as I like the lineup you mention, only Iggy had a recruiting profile similar to these two.



Maybe JB has decided that if his under the radar kids are going to be early entries to the draft anyway, he may as well start recruiting some 2-and-done types with the risk that occasionally one might become a 1-and-done.

Ziff72

May 11th, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^

I see your point, but I'm just pointing out Beilien does not lose every recruiting battle and we just settle for Plan B types like Rahkman every time.   Who we should be targeting is certainly up for debate but Beilien is getting a good portion of the guys he wants.  Those types of players are often ranked in the 40-150 range instead of the1-40 range many posters would like to see.

BigBlue02

May 11th, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^

On top of that, does it really matter how highly ranked they are if a large chunk of your plan A guys are leaving early for the draft anyway?

WorldwideTJRob

May 11th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^

Of course! Jordan Poole seems like he will be a really good player. However, there is a big difference between him and Colin Sexton for example. A highly touted player like that might be the difference between being in the NC and winning it. Coach B is getting really good talent, but even he is not opposed to getting 1-and-done players if they fit our system. That’s the reason he recruited Mo Bamba and Jaylen Brown so hard!

Mr Miggle

May 11th, 2018 at 2:57 PM ^

Both of them initiated contact with Michigan late in the process. Beilein recruited them hard, but only after they showed serious interest. He wasn't really in on anyone else anymore that he risked losing by chasing after them.

Beilein's not averse to signing a one and done, but he sure doesn't prioritize going after them.

Kevin14

May 11th, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^

I'm trying VERY hard not to get excited about high level basketball recruits with Michigan interest, but you're making it VERY difficult.

maize-blue

May 11th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^

In Wilson's Twitter pic, he is shooting the ball only in the Michigan edit. This means he's all UM, obviously.

SAMgO

May 11th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^

People were so disappointed by a lack of a perceived recruiting bump after the 2013 run that I feel like we now just aren't expecting one, but yet look at this...

BIGBLUEWORLD

May 11th, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^

So you're telling me this is what will be happening with our football recruiting in a little while?

oreblue

May 11th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^

That is, uh, quite the ensemble in DJ Carton's tweet.

I don't usually trust the basketball recruiting predictions since money talks much more so than school quality, but we've got to start seeing these top guys coming here more often because of our track record of producing NBA talent. At some point, UM is a blue-chipper school.